Chapter 4- Kasal

Buong gabi akong binagabag ng balita ni lola. Arrange marriage? Uso pa pala ito sa panahon ngayon. Hindi ko maiiwasang hilain ang aking buhok at pinipilit na intindihin ang paksa ng pag uusap namin ni lola kanina.

"Apo, I’m so glad that you came home early.” Masuyong pagbati sa akin ni Lola habang inaalalayan ako papasok sa mansion.

I really don’t know, but I feel something strange coming from Lola's voice. It feels weird, but I just shrugged that thought away. I just smiled at her and hugged her arms. Ah, this is heaven. Being in my grandparents' arms feels like heaven.

“Sige na maghanda ka muna at may pag uusapan tayong mahalaga pagkatapos mo. Just come with us to the study room okay?” may ngiting aniya at sinenyasan siyang umakyat sa kaniyang silid upang maglinis ng katawan at magpalit ng pambahay na damit.

She immediately finishes her business at sumunod agad sa sa kanilang study room.

The study room is so spacious. There are a lot of books on the shelves, mostly are about politics and medicine. Books that my mother wanted and loved when she was still alive.

Her grandparents are at the study table waiting for her to come to them. They are in all smiles when she reaches them. She kissed them on their cheeks and settled herself on the seat provided for her.

“Did your grandma tell you already that we were going to discuss something important to you?” Her grandfather asks her in a serious tone.

“Yes grandpa but I am still clueless of the thing we are going to talked to.” Humahagikhik niyang tugon sa dalawang matanda. May mumunting mga ngiti rin ang mga ito habang sinusulyapan siya. Kitang- kita niya sa mga mata nito ang pagmamahal na mag mula noon ay hindi ipinagkait sa kaniya.

“Hija, I know that it is too early, but I want you to know that our decision is for your welfare. ” Her grandmother stated, kitang kita niya kung paano kumislap ang luha sa mga mata nito.

“Grandma,” she said as she held her hand and lovingly kissed it.

“Sorry, apo if we came up with this idea. We don’t want you to be alone whenever the time comes that I and your lolo will not be here with you.” Her Lola said while tears were streaming from her cheeks. She also saw the loneliness in her grandfather’s eyes while watching both of them.

She is still clueless, but seeing her grandparents in this kind of situation breaks her heart. Bumigat ang kaniyang pag hinga at tila pinipiga ang kaniyang puso sa nakikita. Never in her entire life did she see the both of them crying, especially his grandfather. She knows him as the strongest and the kindest man. He is always strict and serious in front of other people. He only shows his sweet and gentle façade to her and her grandmother, Senyora Aurora.

“Why are you so sad? Diba the both you promise that you will never leave me and y-you said t-that y-ou will stay with m-me until the end.” She cries, remembering the promises her grandparents gave to her when she was still a kid.

"Grandpa, you promise na ihahatid mo pa ako sa a-altar d-diba.” She is looking to her Grandfather while reminiscing those words.

“You said you would protect me from those bad guys, and you are the one who will punch my boyfriend if you know that he is hurting me. Y-you p-romise that to me, Lo. ” She can’t hold her tears anymore. She cries her heart out while saying those words. Tandang tanda niya pa kung gaano ka seryoso ang kaniyang Lolo habang sinasabi sa kaniya ang mga katagang iyon.

“Yes hija, Lolo will never forget that. But we are old enough that we don’t know if hanggang saan na lamang ang pisi ng buhay namin. We really want to stay with you till you grow up. Till your hair turns gray, b-but we c-cant.” Pumiyok ang matanda habang sinasabi ang mga salitang iyon. Nagsisibagsakan na rin  ang mga luha nito at walang ampat na umiyak.

Masakit. Sobrang sakit. Naging mabait at masunurin naman siyang bata pero bakit gano’n? Gusto niya lamang sumaya. Gusto niya lamang makasama habang buhay ang dalawang matanda pero bakit mukhang ayaw itong ipagkaloob sa kaniya?

It is like they are now bidding their goodbyes to her. Ayaw niyang tanggapin iyon at ayaw niya itong isipin.

Pailing- iling siyang humarap sa mga ito at tumayo. Lumapit siya sa dalawang matanda at yinakap ito ng mahigpit.

“Ayaw ko pong isipin na namamaalam na kayo sa akin. Malusog po kayo at nasa mabuting kalagayan, if you want I will call our family doctor to check the both of  you and to prove that you will live longer.” Sabi niya at akmang tatawagan ang doctor ng kanilang pamilya ngunit humalakhak lamang ang kaniyang lola.

“Sinu naman ang nagsabing namamaalam na kami sayo?” tanong nito habang magiliw na nakataas ang isang kilay. Tila natutuwa sa kaniyang ginagawa.

“Hindi ‘yon ang gusto naming sabihin apo. Gusto lang naming ihanda ka kung mangyari mang mawala na kami sa mundong ito. At isa pa wala pang nabubugbog ang Lolo mo.” Mapaglaro at nanunuksong sambit ng matandang babae.

Agad namang umingos ang Senyor sa sinabi ng asawa.

“Oh siya mukhang lumilihis na tayo sa dapat nating  pag usapan.” Puna ng kaniyang lolo habang mahinang natatawa at inayos ang pagkakaupo.

Kumalas na rin siya sa pagkakayakap sa mga ito at bumalik na sa kaniyang upuan.

Mahina siyang natawa sa tinuran nito at pinunasan ang kaniyang mga luha at isinunod na tinulungang pahiran ang luha ng kaniyang lola.

“So apo we are to announce that you will be having an arranged marriage with my companion’s grandson.” Walang gatatol- gatol na  pahayag ng Senyor sa kaniya.

Tila bomba itong sumabog sa kaniyang harapan. Rason upang manigas siya na parang yelo at tila nahinto ang  tibok ng kaniyang puso. Ang mga ugat ay tila naparalisa at biglang nanlamig ang buong paligid. Nawalan rin ng kulay ang kaniyang mukha.

Hindi niya malaman kung gaano siya katagal sa ganoong kalagayan. Kung hindi pa siya kinalabit ng kaniyang lola ay baka naging tuod na lamang siya habang buhay.

“Are you okay, apo?” her lola asked her. Mukha itong nag alala sa kaniya.

Do’n lamang bumalik ang kaniyang animo. Ngunit ang mga kamay ay nanginginig pa rin. Pipi siyang humiling sa diyos na sana nabingi lamang siya o di kaya’y bawiin ng kaniyang Lolo ang balitang ‘yon.

“Come again Lo haha I think namali ang nadinig ko,” aniya sa nag aalinlangang boses.

Her grandfather smiled at her and said, "Yes, apo, you heard us right. You are soon to be married. ”

Kabaliktaran sa sayang nararamdaman ng dalawang matanda ang nararamdaman niya. Takot  at pagkahabag yun ang laman ng kaniyang isipan.

Pilit siyang ngumiti sa kaniyang Lolo at Lola. Tinapos rin nila kaagad ang meeting at inabisuhan siyang magpahinga para sa darating na hapunan.

Tuliro siyang pumunta sa kaniyang silid at wala sa sariling sumalampak sa kaniyang kama. Tulala at buhol-buhol ang mga impormasyong nakapaloob sa kaniyang utak.

"Ahhhh, arrange marriage?! Shit handa na ba talaga ako?” Bigla na lamang sumakit ang kaniyang ulo habang pilit na binabalikan ang kaganapan kanina.

“A-ako m-magpapakasal? Tapos hindi ko pa kilala ang papakasalan ko, paano naman kung pangit pala iyon? Tapos, tapos masama ang ugali. Paano na ako?” halos inuntog niya na ang ulo sa pader.

Natapos na rin ang kanilang hapunan ngunit para siyang manika na walang buhay at ngumingiti lamang kung tinatanong at sumasagot.

Hinubad niya ang kaniyang mga damit kasama ang kaniyang panloob at agad na pumunta sa kaniyang palikuran.

“Si lola naman eh, bakit kasi nila ako minamadali? Pangit ba ako? Hindi! Kaya ko naman ang sarili ko ah "nanlulumong pagka usap niya sa sarili.

Bago pa man siya lumusong sa bath tub, wala sa sarili siyang napatingin sa life-size mirror na mayroon ito.

She caresses her body from her shoulders to her legs. Flawless and spotless.

Gusto niya lamang ibigay ang sarili sa unang lalaking mamahalin niya pero paano na iyon mangyayari kung mayroon nang lalaking ipinagka sundo sa kaniya.

Para na siyang mababaliw sa kaka isip kaya’t agad siyang lumusong sa maaligamgam na tubig na inihanda ni Martha.

Masarap ang tubig at mabango ito. Tila hinehele siyang ipikit ang mga mata at paunti- unti nire- relax ang kaniyang utak.

Hinayaan niya lamang ang tubig na yakapin ang kaniyang kahubadan at sandaling kalimutan ang problemang bumabagabag sa kaniya.

*****

Clinton took a sip of his liquor. Isang sulyap ang iginawad niya sa mga lalaking papalapit sa kaniyang gawi. It was Luke, the mayor of Quezon City. He is with Levi and Zakhar, his business partners and college friends.

“What’s up, brute?” Levi greeted him and tapped his shoulder. Tinanguan na lamang niya ang dalawa pang kaibigan at sabay sabay silang umupo sa sofa. Mabilis na nagsilapitan ang crews nang high end bar na iyon upang asikasuhin at pagsilbihan sila.

“How’s the City Hall mayor, still standing?” Obviously, it was Levi. mukhang iniinis na naman nito si Luke.

“You guess Villareal,” Luke answered sarcastically.

Tumawa lamang si Levi at patuloy na uminom sa inumin na hawak nito. Levi is the annoying ass in their group, but he is also the best one to be with when the situation comes to its worst.

They all came from prominent and powerful families. They are also known because of their wealth and reputation, and no one tries to mess up with them.

It was Friday. Clinton wants to relax himself from the workload he has, and going to this kind of place is his own way of relaxing.

They are silently sipping their liquor while watching the people on the dancefloor. They are in a private room. That’s why they can have their privacy.

“I heard the Gureras are fixing an arranged marriage with their grandchild,” Levi said while looking at them. There is an unknown emotion dancing in his eyes.

Nagtagis ang kaniyang mga bagang at kumuyon ang kaniyang kaliwang kamay. Biglang humigpit rin ang hawak niya sa basong hawak.

“Where did you hear that?” Zakhar asks, and now their full attention is on Levi.

“From Mamita. Senyora Aurora and Mamita are friends, that’s why." Umiiling na pahayag ni Levi, at muling sumimsim ng alak.

“That girl is too young, right?” Luke looks at him directly, clarifying his statement.

“Yeah,” he said while looking at his glass.

“Then why are they planning such a fixed marriage? I also heard that a lot of influential families from politics and the business world are interested in her. “ Levi continued.

Zakhar stated factually, "We have known the Guereras for so long and they will not settle for that unless it is necessary."

“Yes, that’s why I am also wondering about their sudden decision. Their grandchild is beautiful. I can say and testify to that. She is probably three years younger than us." Levi said habang kinakalikot ang cellphone nito.

"Here, look at this.” Pinakita niya ang litrato ng isang babae.

That is Anjelouv Kristen Guerera. She is the epitome of beauty he must say. Normal at natural ang ganda nito. She has these thick and curly eyelashes that emphasize the beauty of her eyes. Her eyes are twinkling with happiness and seduction. Her lips are red and a little bit pouty, and her nose is small and pointed. Her cheeks are also soft and pinkish, which compliments her heart-shaped face.

This girl could pass as a goddess. No wonder why a lot of men want her. She has this alluring and captivating beauty that radiates from within her and captures everyone’s attention.

Inilihis niya ang kaniyang mata sa litratong pinakita ni Levi at sinimulang iguhit ito sa kaniyang alaala.

“I can’t believe that this girl is still existing nowadays. Her beauty is one of a kind, huh? I wonder if who will be the lucky one to be his groom. ” It was Zakhar. May mapaglarong ngiting ani nito.

“I don’t think Senyor Xencio Guerera will allow his only granddaughter to be with a worthless man. They sheltered that girl for too long, and I know that they will do everything to give her the best.” Luke laughed frankly and drank his liquor.

Every one of them nodded in response and started to talk about their businesses.

It was already 2 o’clock in the morning when they finished drinking. They left the bar and rode away in their luxurious car. When he reached his penthouse, he immediately took off his clothes and went under the shower.

As the water enveloped his body, the image of Kristen Guerera filled his mind. His body tensed while imagining her bare and in her baby suit. He can imagine Kristen in the middle of his bed, lying and waiting for him to devour and pleasure her. His temperature suddenly rises and his shaft twitches.

Fuck baby, your effect on me doesn’t change a bit. Oh shit, I need a cold shower to calm down. "Damn it," he said, cursing himself.

Do you think I would let you with another man except me baby? Think again, because I am coming to collect your debt.